Speaker: Thomas Brosset, PhD Student, Lancaster University
Between the arrival of the First Crusade in Antioch and the death of Saladin (1097-1193), over 700 sieges took place in the Middle Eastern region of the Levant. Latin and Islamic commanders alike sought to capture fortified places in the strategic struggle for control of the region. However, mass market books and magazines, movies, TV series, and video games often misrepresent sieges of this period. The objective of this lecture is to offer an accurate depiction of sieges by answering several questions:
- First, by exploring the main characteristics of sieges. How long were these? Did Christians or Muslims lead more sieges? Were they successful? What was the usual outcome?
- Secondly, which techniques were the most effective for the besieged to defend their settlements? The lecture explains how the besieged defended themselves, by looking at the fortifications as well as leaving the fortress (sallying) to attack the besiegers.
- Thirdly, which techniques did besiegers favour to take a fortified site? The lecture explores attempts to assault settlements with siege engines, to create a breach in the fortifications with siege artillery and sapping, and, finally, to starve out the defenders.
Please register for this lecture to be sent a link to join the online presentation.
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